Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, forcing a House vote within the next two days and reigniting a constitutional fight over Congress's war powers. The resolution accuses Hegseth of "high crimes and misdemeanors" and lists eight specific charges. Three of them allege Hegseth illegally waged war against Iran in violation of the War Powers Resolution. Another charge accuses him of illegally waging war against Yemen, also in violation of the War Powers Resolution. The remaining counts include ignoring laws designed to minimize civilian casualties, overseeing "extrajudicial killings" in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean through strikes on alleged drug boats, suppressing free speech in connection with the effort to punish Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for a video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders, and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization. Hegseth dismissed the effort in a video released last Thursday, calling Massie's resolution "sham articles of impeachment." "Didn't work against President Trump and it won't work with me," Hegseth said. Massie, a longtime critic of Hegseth, told reporters Monday that the secretary's characterization of him as a "disgruntled defeated congressman" was only half right. Hegseth campaigned during the GOP primary for Ed Gallrein, who went on to defeat Massie. "Well, he's right about one thing — I'm a defeated congressman. I'm not disgruntled," Massie said. "I'm being polite here. What is an impeachment? An impeachment is just firing someone, really. You don't go to prison, you don't go to jail, you don't pay a fine. When the Democrats get in charge, they are going to be very vicious." Massie said the effort underscores the need to litigate whether Congress has real war powers at all, noting that the War Powers Resolution has largely been ignored by presidents of both parties. "What's at heart here is the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress," he said. Massie first sought to bring the impeachment resolution to the floor before the midterm elections, prompting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to call an early recess to avoid the vote. That maneuver caused the resolution to expire, which is why Massie reintroduced it Monday. Presumptive next House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has already signaled support for an impeachment push against Hegseth. Even Republican members who oppose impeaching Hegseth have said the Trump administration could do a better job making the case to Congress and the public about the plan for the Iran war going forward. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) indicated to reporters that impeachment would be hypocritical given that administrations going back to the Korean War have largely ignored Congress's war powers efforts. "I think trying to scapegoat Pete Hegseth is just the status quo politics in Washington," he said. "I think it would be a mistake to impeach." Davidson said lawmakers who want changes are better off trying to leverage the power of the purse to withhold money from the conflict. There could be sufficient votes to impeach Hegseth in the House, with the support of all Democrats, Massie, and a handful of Republicans. However, it is unlikely to clear the higher Senate threshold for convicting and removing Hegseth from office, which requires two-thirds of the Senate.